Sadly, I must inform you that Swami Harinanda passed away early in the afternoon on Tuesday, August 19, 2014. His death came quickly and without pain. As per his wishes there was no service nor memorial, although he would have appreciated donations to the SPCA or any animal shelter that you like. It goes without saying that this one–of–a–kind and great man will be greatly missed.

I first came to know Swami Harinanda around 1995. He was a customer of mine. One way or another, we got talking about spirituality and he mentioned to me that he was a swami. I must admit, I thought he was joking. But then I realized he was serious. We corresponded by email. Amazingly, I still have a printed copy of his early emails to this day.

Swami Harinanda was able to answer some of my basic questions about yoga and although I had started on the yogic path before I met him, talking to and knowing Swami Harinanda helped make my path more clear.

I was lucky enough to have met Swami Harinanda for the first time in April, 1996. I can remember the first time I met him as I drove up to his house. He came outside to greet me — I felt a great sense of joy and calm come over me.

The next day, Swami Harinanda personally taught me the science of yantra yoga at his dining table. I wrote down the principles of yantra yoga on both sides of a blank piece of paper as Swami Harinanda talked. It was a beautiful moment for me — finally my teacher had come. These lessons I still have to this day and still act as my foundation regarding yantra yoga.

Starting around late 1996 to 1997, I helped Swami Harinanda build an early web site. Later we expanded and moved his web site to this current location real-yoga.com. Swami Harinanda wanted people to see the words real yoga — he wanted people to awaken to the truth of what real yoga is not. Swami Harinanda was not interested in yoga for health.

While building the real yoga web site, Swami Harinanda didn't know what information we should add. So I suggested to him that we should add informaton that is not easily found elsewhere regarding real yoga. I told Swami Harinanda that myself and others want to know why we should practice yoga, what are the types of yoga, who are some famous yogis and a lesson in pure hatha yoga. So this is what we did. I asked the questions, Swami Harinanda wrote the content.

Swami Harinanda was a pure teacher. He would never accept money for teaching. Yoga or spirituality is part of universal knowledge that belongs to everyone. Therefore, one cannot charge for what already belongs to them. Swami Harinanda always said that a good teacher has a day job and then teaches on his or her own time for free. The teacher should pay for any room rental, etc — this is the sign of a pure teacher which Swami Harinanda was.

Swami Harinanda was taught or told personally by Ramana Marharshi to never accept payment and as Swami Harinanda would always say, Ramana Maharshi is never wrong.

Swami Harinanda did not go to meet Ramana Maharshi in India, instead, they met on the astral plane. Ramana told Swami Harinanda that he did not need to be in a cave or anything like that to be a good student of yoga. Swami Harinanda took those words to heart and lived a normal life while being totally dedicated to self realization.

Swami Harinanda knew many little or lesser known things about yoga. He really studied the theory of yoga and put himself into a position to meet people that would impact him. Somewhere along the way he learned the Master's Chant, as an example, and many more things. Swami Harinanda would openly teach kriya yoga as well. Swami Harinanda loved the yogic life and just absorbed every little detail.

In 1996, I was personally quite ill and possibly near death. Swami Harinanda gave me the book on Karma Yoga by Swami Vivekanda to read. It was the best medicine I've ever received. From that day onwards, I fell madly in love with karma yoga. Knowing this, Swami Harinanda bestowed the name Karmananda to me. I thank him very much for this honour.

August's Numerology Influences For People Born On June 18...

This month requires you to reflect on your life since January. Determine what’s been good and what’s been bad. Choose the best seeds (aspects of your life) while throwing away the bad. Next month requires you to plant your chosen seeds… so choose carefully. The quality seeds you plant next month will then govern your life until the end of the year. This is ultimately a month of dreaming and planning. If you plant wise seeds next month you will help end the year on a positive note so you can start the next year feeling good. This month provides you with the rare opportunity or ability to mentally discern, with sound judgment, the negatives and positives since the beginning of the year. The influences of this month encourage you to use good judgement.

Love Influences For August:

This is not the best month to start a new relationship but rather take the time to determine and reflect upon what has failed in previous relationships and/or what is preventing you from having a good relationship. Next month is a good month to either start or start looking for a new relationship. Those in an existing relationship need to take the time to reflect upon the good and bad aspects of their relationship. Next month, consciously choose to throw away and/or stop the bad aspects of your relationship while emphasizing the good. This will help create a more loving relationship.

2017's Numerology Influences For People Born On June 18...

8 Year Cycle — Reward For Labour, Justice

The 8 year cycle period is called the time of fruition. You want to sell? Sell now. Bring in the harvest. This is a year that helps you obtain good judgement. One can make some good business deals in an 8 year cycle. The 8 year cycle is the year of the seed pod. It is the time to reap your rewards. Draw everything in, all your resources — but do not reinvest near the end of the year as you need to save your money for next year. This is a year to super organize your life.

Health Influences For 2017:

Avoid red meats. Gonads, sex organs and reproductive system in both men and women.